Lovely Runner (2024)

A Triumph of Writing, Direction, and Acting

If you're on the fence about this show because of the plot, let me assure you: the writing, direction, and acting are absolutely stellar.

The storyline might not break new ground, and that's clear, but wow, the writing is phenomenal. Each character is crafted with such care, capturing the essence of the mid-2000s perfectly. The praise can't be overstated; every character, no matter how minor, is intricately developed.

Now, let's talk about the director. What a vision! The director's intelligence shines through, knowing exactly what will captivate the audience. The direction is gripping, with not a single dull moment, showcasing the director's remarkable vision.

The actors, oh my goodness, words fall short in describing their brilliance in their respective roles, especially the leads. The male lead is portrayed with such depth; the character is finely etched, and this role is a gift to him that he fully embraces. He's not just a good choice; he's the embodiment of perfection for this role.

As for the female lead, there's no doubt she is the ideal choice for the role; her character fits her like a glove. Kudos to her for taking on this role with such grace and strength.

"And she deserves immense credit for believing in the wonderful production team, even when many actors were hesitant to take on the male lead role in this drama. Yet, she persisted and waited for 2-3 years to meet Ryu Sun-jae in real life."

Hats off to the entire production team for their patience through delays and their unwavering confidence in the project. Despite the initial reluctance from other actors, they are a true source of inspiration.

For those considering whether to watch this because the plot seems average, trust me, the plot may not be revolutionary, but the writing is amazing, the direction is outstanding, and the acting is the cherry on top.

I thoroughly enjoyed this work and highly recommend it to anyone seeking a production that excels in every aspect. Don't be misled by a seemingly simple plot; it is the execution that makes this a true masterpiece.

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TERNYATA COWONYA DULUAN YANG SUKA

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

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This K-Drama Will Make You Want to Rewind Time (and Not Just Because of Travel)

Imagine this: you're chilling on your couch, popcorn in hand, ready to dive into a new K-drama adventure. That's exactly how I felt when I hit play on *Lovely Runner*. From the get-go, I was hooked. The storyline? Super intriguing. We've got Ryu Sun Jae, this swoon-worthy idol, and Im Sol, his biggest fan who's been through some tough stuff. But here's the twist: time travel! Sol gets zapped back 15 years into the past, and boom, she's face to face with Sun Jae in his high school days. Talk about a plot twist!

Now, let's talk characters. Sun Jae? Total sweetheart. He's got this awkward charm that just makes you want to give him a big ol' hug. And Sol? She's hilarious! Her antics had me laughing out loud one minute and tearing up the next. Oh, and can we talk about their chemistry? It's off the charts! Every time they were on screen together, sparks were flying.

let's talk about the unsung heroes of Lovely Runner – the supporting cast! You've got Kim Won Hae, the king of comedy, bringing the laughs as Sun Jae's hilarious dad. His banter with Sol's mom? Priceless. Then there's Baek In Hyuk, the goofy best friend who always knows how to lighten the mood. Seriously, his antics had me in stitches every time he appeared on screen.
Ah, Taesung, from his love for fashion to his heartfelt relationships, he adds depth and warmth to every scene he's in. His charming personality, authentic friendships, and meaningful character growth make him a standout in the supporting cast.

But it's not just the big names stealing the show. Lovely Runner is all about those little details that make the world feel so real. Like, remember when Sol zoomed in on Sun Jae's collarbone in his fan photo? I swear, I was wheezing! And how about those throwback moments to South Korea in the past? From the Olympics to the rise of SNSD, it's like taking a trip down memory lane.

Oh, and let's not forget about those clever little nods to past episodes. The way they seamlessly tied everything together? Genius. From callbacks to earlier scenes to subtle hints about future plot twists, it's like a game of cat and mouse trying to unravel all the mysteries. And let me tell you, it's oh-so-satisfying when you finally connect all the dots. It's those tiny moments that really make Lovely Runner stand out from the crowd.

But it's not all sunshine and rainbows. There's a serial killer subplot that had me on the edge of my seat. And let me tell you, the final showdown? Talk about intense! Although, I gotta admit, the villain was a bit meh. But hey, you win some, you lose some.

And don't even get me started on the soundtrack! It's like they handpicked every song to perfectly match the mood of each scene. I found myself humming along to "Sudden Shower" for days after finishing the series.

Overall, *Lovely Runner* is like a warm hug on a rainy day. Sure, it's got its flaws, but the feels it gives you more than make up for it. So if you're in the mood for a fun, heartwarming drama that'll leave you smiling, give this one a shot! Trust me, you won't regret it.

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HEART MORE THAN WARM!

I started enchanted with this drama and ended in a state of grace and with a certain nostalgia. Few dramas have moved me as much as this one, a completely unpretentious drama that, when I saw the trailers, I thought I would ignore and forget. However, after watching the first episode, it was clear that there was a story with a simple premise but with immediate magnetism. It's hard to explain, but I feel full and happy with everything that happened and with this ending that was a "fan service" beyond reproach.

I hope that Kim Hye-Yoon takes on roles that don't require her to mould her voice into a cute and almost childish version. Her serene performance with her natural voice in the first episode was of high quality. Now we need to talk about the actor of the moment: Byeon WooSeok, who gave his body and soul to this role. It seems like he lived every moment of Seon-Jae as if it were his own. Moreover, he is an actor who doesn't stay in his comfort zone and constantly challenges himself. In 12 months, he played a villain and this hero in this romantic comedy. WooSeok is the moment and deserves all the possible praise. By the way, in his scene with the grandmother, it was clear that his crying was natural and authentic, not acting. Hearing that from someone should move you, I was choked up.

I cannot forget the Archangel Michael of this drama, Tae Sung, who protected the couple and put an end to all that anguish. It is worth noting that Tae Sung was excellently portrayed by the outstanding Song Geon-Hee, who is long overdue to be the lead in a drama. He is a complete actor as well. The trio of protagonists did very well, and that's why this drama was successful in Korea and worldwide.

I will miss it; the spring snows will never be the same.

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BIG Surprise...

I was pleasantly surprised by this drama. Excellent all around, especially Kim Hye Yoon. For someone who has done limited lead roles, what an actress.
She has it all:
- Acting = 9
- Appeal = 10
- Role = Character was perfect for her (so the casting director gets 5 stars)
I am not even sure if the casting directors in the KWood world analyze character fit before placing someone in a role because I have seen numerous miscasts since I started watching KDRAMAs 14 years ago. Anyone could have played the male role but Byeon Woo Seok was good. FL knocked it out of the park and kept you glued to the drama wishing the episodes would come faster. I am seriously going to save Kim Hye Yoon on all my Korean entertainment sites so I can make sure to watch her future projects. This young woman is going to be a great actress!

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Run don't walk

What if there was someone in this world who would fall in love with you at every stage of life and under every circumstance? What if he was willing to die for you as long as he could spend one extra moment with you? The hopeless romantic in me leaps for joy!

Lovely Runner may not have the most original storyline but it is a well made drama that will keep you fully engaged. It has the perfect blend of romance, comedy and thrills. The best part of it was the pacing. As soon as you felt that the story was dragging, the story would take a sudden turn. At no point was I ever bored. I also want to highlight the comedy. In almost every episode there is at one scene where you'll burst out laughing. Very few dramas can do comedy without it being over the top after some time.

As far as acting goes, every does a good job. I've seen Byeon Woo Seok, in several dramas but this is the first time he has truly shined. I wish more success in future. Kim Hye Yoon also does a good job but I feel the character is not much different from Extraordinarily You. supporting roles were fine but special mention goes to Lee Seung Hyub and Kim Won Hae. I really liked their roles.

The music was pleasant. If I Eclipse was a real k-pop band, I would likely have been a fan. The music was a treat to watch.

Although the twists and turns would be less impactful, I really think it will be a good rewatch.

To sum it up, don't hesitate. Just watch the drama, there is a high chance that you'll end up loving it just as much as as I did.

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What's meant to be is meant to be

A beautiful drama about how fate will always lead you to the person you are meant to be with. The drama started off with great potential and ended with no disappointment. The story was panned out perfectly, no rushed endings. The actors, especially Byun Woo Seok, did an extremely amazing job at bringing out his character. He managed to portray so many emotions and expressions and did justice to his role. The dramas stirrs so many emotions in just a single episode. I have to say that I was skeptical about watching it because of all the controversy surrounding it even before it aired but I am glad I gave it a chance. My Mondays and Tuesdays were full of hope thanks to this amazing work of art.

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Cute watch, angsty but not the best in the crime part

I am some one that drops dramas (especially romcoms) once it gets boring, pretty easily. But i did not drop this, and that itself says a lot about this drama.

Just finished. I personally liked it. There are flaws but not enough to make me drop it. Maybe i liked it cause this was my comeback drama after i didn't watch any new dramas for almost a year.
The crime part did not really felt like it fit in the story. The characters especially ml and fl could have had a depth, it felt like fl and ml's entire life revolved around each others. Fl was disable and time travelled back when did not have disability, this could have been a good opportunity for her to try going in depth about enjoying her life with the working legs she had but instead she went after ml. Same with ml, we could have gone in depth about his passion for swimming, he literally almost got to join the olympics for god's sake! but no. he just gave up and went after his crush. The killer didn't made me feel menacing because we don't even go in depth about the killer (what he does, how he does this, what was his life before, how did he started killing etc.

But all that said , the acting was good. No one else can act like Im sol other than kim hye yoon. Same with byeon woo seok as sun jae. Their romance was too sweet to not do "awww" especially with the ost.

THE OSTs ! for some reason Spring snow by 10CM makes me cry in a good way? every time even if the song is cute idk why. same for Like a dream by MINNE and A day by Jongho from ateez's vocals. 10/10! Also Byeon Woo Seok is a great singer.

why did the killer just died? They killed him off after all that in the first 5 minutes of the final ep....makes no sense. He is the main villain and he just got hit and died? Could have done better in that.

good watch ,made me cry in the end, will only rewatch for nostalgia that's it.

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Finest 2024 K-Drama So Far! This brings back old drama vibes!

At first glance, we all must assume that this drama is just another time travel storyline in which the FL annoyingly chases after the ML. The character's introduction illustrates FL's intense admiration for ML, which lends credence to this early judgment. For everyone who has seen this drama, we can all agree that the turning point in our opinion was when we saw ML's POV at the end of episode 2. From this epic scene, it was the second I knew that this drama was not just "just" a random drama.

The most intriguing aspect is that the 'vibes' I experienced while watching this drama reminded me of the first time I watched Korean dramas; they were amusing, light, and succeeded in making us laugh and feel butterflies in our stomachs at the same time. I watched it for joy because everyone said it was okay to watch, and heellll I spent nearly 7 episodes sitting on a seat! It was too exciting to leave my seat.

The plot of this drama is light; some may argue that it is a cliché plotline with random conflict and a predictable ending. But there's nothing wrong with those of you who enjoy light-hearted dramas about school life. We'll be like roller coasters, laughing out loud, getting excited, and crying at the end of each episode.

The two main characters accurately portray the characteristics of a high school lovey-dovey pair. While many people adore Sun Jae, I am particularly impressed by the image of Im Sol's character; this girl is depicted as vibrant and enthusiastic. Kim Hye Yoon is the perfect artist to play characters of different years in each era. I can't picture anyone else being Im Sol. On the other hand, Byeon Woo Seok is truly destined to play Sun Jae; he and his current popularity when this drama aired are enough proof that he is a superb actor, and I wish him all the best in his future endeavors as an actor.

Also, I hope we all find at least one man like Sun Jae in our lives (though this is almost impossible) hehe.

Each aspect of this story makes it difficult for me to forget. The OST for the drama "Sudden Shower" is certainly spectacular! Do listen and feel how Byeon Woo Seok sings this; I can nearly feel Sun Jae's complex feelings for Im Sol every time I hear this song.

Undoubtedly, Lovely Runner is the best 2024 drama so far; hopefully, we will see many more dramas like this. Hands up to the entire crew; despite the hardships they had at the beginning of production and filming, the hype surrounding this drama is well-deserved!

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